Child&#39;s modeling dough kit and method

ABSTRACT

A kit includes apron and a plurality of accessories. The apron may include at least four pockets and at least three accessory holders for receiving the plurality of accessories. The kit may be useful for providing an apron for keeping a child&#39;s clothes clean whilst using modeling dough, and for providing accessories for use with the modeling dough that are removably stored within the apron.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/437,045 filed Dec. 20, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of modeling dough and more specifically relates to accessories for use with a modeling dough.

2. Description of Related Art

Malleable play materials have proven to be an extremely long-lasting and popular toy product. Such materials have varied considerably from earliest moldable or malleable materials which comprised mold simple modeling clay to later developed starch based materials and finally to present day play materials which are formed of complex synthetic and oil-based formulas. For decades, children have especially enjoyed playing with these modeling doughs, whether sculpting, shaping, or building characters and objects from their imagination. Unfortunately, modeling dough can be messy and can even stain children's clothes. Likewise, children typically enjoy crafts, but glue, markers, paints, and other materials can ruin a child's outfit in an instant. Thus, a suitable solution is desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,561 to Gregory M. Cannone relates to a play material container having plural play features. The described play material container having plural play features includes a base having an interior cavity, a sidewall and a cookie-cutter edge defining a predetermined shape. A lid is configured to be snap-fitted upon the base to provide container closure. An extrusion die is formed in the container base sidewall which is capped by a resiliently supported cap secured to the container lid. The container lid defines an upper surface supporting a plurality of open face press molds. The cookie-cutter shape, the press mold elements, and the extrusion die aperture are preferably coordinated in accordance with a common theme such as a food article or the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known modeling dough art, the present disclosure provides a novel child's modeling dough kit and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide an apron for keeping a user's clothes clean whilst using modeling dough, and for providing accessories for use with the modeling dough that are removably stored within the apron.

A kit is disclosed herein. The kit includes an apron which may include at least one attachment means, at least one pocket, and at least one accessory holder. The at least one attachment means may be configured to attach the apron to a body of a user. Further, a plurality of accessories may be provided and configured for use with the modeling dough. At least one of the plurality of accessories may be configured for removable placement into the at least one pocket, and another one of the plurality of accessories may be configured for removable attachment to the at least one accessory holder.

A method of using the kit with a modeling dough is also disclosed herein. The method of using the kit with a modeling dough may comprise the steps of: providing the kit as above; using the at least one attachment means to attach the apron to the body of the user; removing at least one of the plurality of accessories from one of the at least one pocket and the at least one accessory holder; and using the at least one of the plurality of accessories with the modeling dough.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a child's modeling dough kit and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a side-front perspective view of the kit during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the kit of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the kit of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side-front perspective view of the kit of FIG. 1 during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for kit, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to use of modeling dough and more particularly to a child's modeling dough kit and method as used to improve the accessories for use with a modeling dough.

Generally, the kit may include an apron which may include pockets for quick access to sculpting tools. This may encourage development, creativity, decision-making, and independent play in children, and accelerate eye-hand coordination, improve self-esteem, and sharpen motor dexterity. The present apron may offer a convenient place to store the modeling dough and tools when not in use. The apron may protect children from messes while storing and holding a wide range of modeling dough tools for enhanced playtime. Further, the apron may be made from easily washable fabric, cotton, plastic, vinyl, or other suitable material.

The apron may include a loop that goes around the neck and a tie string that wraps around the waist, as well as approximately four pockets of different shapes and sizes stitched to the front. Loops with snaps or hook-and-loop fasteners may also be stitched to the apron. Both the pockets and loops may be used to hold the tools found in the accompanying toolkit, including a rolling pin, a pair of scissors, a cutter wheel, cookie cutters, and jars of modeling dough. The tools can be made from plastic or wood.

After use, the apron may keep the entire tool kit together for storage and travel. The kit may be ideal for parents, childcare providers, and schoolteachers seeking to maximize the quality of a child's playtime with quick and independent steps for children to start and finish activities.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a kit 100.

FIG. 1 shows a kit 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As discussed above, the kit 100 may be for use with a modeling dough 5. As Illustrated, the kit 100 may include an apron 110, and a plurality of accessories 120. The apron 110 may include at least one attachment means 112, at least one pocket 114, and at least one accessory holder 116. As illustrated, the at least one attachment means 112 may be configured to attach the apron 110 to a body 10 of a user 40.

Further, as illustrated, the plurality of accessories 120 may be configured for use with the modeling dough 5. At least one of the plurality of accessories 120 may be configured for removable placement into the at least one pocket 114, and another one of the plurality of accessories 120 may be configured for removable attachment to the at least one accessory holder 116.

Referring now to FIG. 2 showing a front perspective view of the kit 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Shown here is the at least one pocket 114 and the at least one accessory holder 116 attached to the apron 110. As demonstrated, the at least one pocket 114 may be stitched to a front of the apron 110. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one pocket 114 may be at least four pockets 114, and the at least four pockets 114 may include a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, one of the four pockets 114 may be sized to store the rolling pin, and another one of the four pockets 114 may be sized to store the cutter-wheel. In this way the user is able to associate shapes with ‘tools’.

As illustrated, the at least one accessory holder 116 may be stitched to the front of the apron 110. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one accessory holder 116 may be at least three accessory holder 116. Further, each of the at least three accessory holders 116 may be a loop connected via a fastening means 118. In the preferred embodiment, the fastening means 118 may be a hook and loop fastener. In another embodiment, the fastening means 118 may be a snap fastener. Further examples of fastening means 118 may include hook and eye fasteners, adhesive, stitching, buttons, and the like. Other fastening means may be used.

Referring now to FIG. 3 showing a front perspective view of the kit 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Illustrated here is the plurality of accessories 120, and the at least one accessory holder 116. As shown, the plurality of accessories 120 may include a rolling pin, at least one cookie cutter, a pair of scissors, a cutter-wheel, and at least one container comprising the modeling dough 5. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one cookie cutter may be a set of cookie cutters including a variety of shapes and sizes. The set of cookie cutters may be removably attached to the at least one accessory holder 116. In the preferred embodiment, the loop of one of the at least three accessory holders 116 may include two strands attached via the fastening means 118. One of the two strands may be threaded through one of the cookie cutters and secured onto the loop via the fastening means 118. In one embodiment, the plurality of accessories 120 may be made from a wood material. In another embodiment, the plurality of accessories 120 may be made from a plastic material. However, other materials may be used.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of the kit 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Shown here is the apron 110 being worn by the user 40. The apron 110 may be made from a washable material. Examples of the washable material may include fabric, cotton, plastic, vinyl or other suitable material. Further, as above, the apron 110 may include at least one attachment means 112. In the preferred embodiment, the at least one attachment means 112 may include a neck attachment 127 and a waist attachment 131. As illustrated, the neck attachment 127 may be a loop-strap configured for removable placement over a head 20 of the user 40, and the waist 25 attachment 131 may be a pair of waist-straps 134, each attached at opposite sides of the apron 110, and configured to tie around a waist 25 of the user 40. Further, as shown the neck attachment 127 may be configured to hang the kit 100 from a hook during storage.

Referring now to FIG. 5 showing a flow diagram illustrating a method of using a kit with a modeling dough 500, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the method of using a kit with a modeling dough 500 may include the steps of: step one 501, providing the kit 100 as above; step two 502, using the at least one attachment means 112 to attach the apron 110 to the body 10 of the user 40; step three 503, removing at least one of the plurality of accessories 120 from one of the at least one pocket 114 and the at least one accessory holder 116; and step four 504, using the at least one of the plurality of accessories 120 with the modeling dough 5. Further steps may include: step five 505, removably placing the at least one of the plurality of accessories 120 into one of the at least one pocket 114 and the at least one accessory holder 116; and step six 506, storing the kit 100 for later use.

It should be noted that step five 505 and step six 506 are optional steps and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of method of use 500 are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of method of use 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for kit 100 (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A kit for use with a modeling dough, the kit comprising: an apron including at least one attachment means, at least one pocket, and at least one accessory holder, the at least one attachment means being configured to attach the apron to a body of a user; and a plurality of accessories configured for use with the modeling dough, at least one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable placement into the at least one pocket, and another one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable attachment to the at least one accessory holder.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of accessories includes a rolling pin.
 3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the plurality of accessories further includes at least one cookie cutter.
 4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the at least one cookie cutter is a set of cookie cutters including a variety of shapes and sizes.
 5. The kit of claim 3, wherein the plurality of accessories further includes a pair of scissors.
 6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the plurality of accessories further includes a cutter-wheel.
 7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the plurality of accessories further includes at least one container comprising the modeling dough.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket is at least four pockets.
 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the at least four pockets include a variety of shapes and sizes.
 10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the at least one accessory holder is at least three accessory holders.
 11. The kit of claim 10, wherein the at least one accessory holder is a loop connected via a fastening means.
 12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the fastening means is a snap fastener.
 13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener.
 14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the attachment means includes a neck attachment and a waist attachment.
 15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the neck attachment is a loop-strap configured for removable placement over a head of the user.
 16. The kit of claim 14, wherein the waist attachment is a pair of waist-straps, each attached at opposite sides of the apron, and configured to tie around a waist of the user.
 17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the apron is made from a washable material.
 18. A kit for use with a modeling dough, the kit comprising: an apron including at least one attachment means, at least one pocket, and at least one accessory holder, the at least one attachment means being configured to attach the apron to a body of a user; and a plurality of accessories configured for use with the modeling dough, at least one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable placement into the at least one pocket, and another one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable attachment to the at least one accessory holder; and wherein the plurality of accessories includes a rolling pin; wherein the plurality of accessories further includes at least one cookie cutter; wherein the at least one cookie cutter is a set of said cookie cutters including a variety of shapes and sizes; wherein the plurality of accessories further includes a pair of scissors; wherein the plurality of accessories further includes a cutter-wheel; wherein the plurality of accessories further includes at least one container comprising the modeling dough; wherein the at least one pocket is at least four said pockets; wherein the at least four pockets include a variety of shapes and sizes; wherein the at least one accessory holder is at least three accessory holders; wherein the at least one accessory holder is a loop connected via a fastening means; wherein the fastening means is a hook and loop fastener; wherein the attachment means includes a neck attachment and a waist attachment; wherein the neck attachment is a loop-strap configured for removable placement over a head of the user; wherein the waist attachment is a pair of waist-straps, each attached at opposite sides of the apron, and configured to tie around a waist of the user; and wherein the apron is made from a washable material.
 19. A method of using a kit with a modeling dough, the method comprising the steps of: providing the kit for use with the modeling dough, the kit comprising: an apron including at least one attachment means, at least one pocket, and at least one accessory holder, the at least one attachment means being configured to attach the apron to a body of a user; and a plurality of accessories configured for use with the modeling dough, at least one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable placement into the at least one pocket, and another one of the plurality of accessories being configured for removable attachment to the at least one accessory holder; using the at least one attachment means to attach the apron to the body of the user; removing at least one of the plurality of accessories from one of the at least one pocket and the at least one accessory holder; and using the at least one of the plurality of accessories with the modeling dough.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of: removably placing the at least one of the plurality of accessories into one of the at least one pocket and the at least one accessory holder; and storing the kit for later use. 